We Can Be Heroes Just for One Day

ASLEFJOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2019 The magazine of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers & Firemen We can be heroes just for one day

Standing by the wall

I will be king & you, you will be queen

And the guns shot above our heads

For ever and ever And the shame was on the other side. We can beat them... The train drivers ’ Inside: Palestine; Pride; Michael Green; and Tolpuddle 2019 union since 1880

GS Mick Whelan

ASLEFJOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2019 Chaos and confusion The magazine of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers & Firemen E HAVE never been in the W game of having preferences in contractual negotiations for franchises, even having different standards of Mick: ‘It’s the old cap industrial relations and collar process’ within certain groups. Our issue is, and always has been, with the model. Never has this been clearer than now, when we might have expected 10 a period of calm after Mr Grayling going and Mr 12 Shapps taking over. Alas, that is not the case. Confusion reigns. News The number of questions we have had over what has been announced continues to grow. l Rail fares rise again; and steam train blues 4 Apparently, Southeastern is to be run again as l Railway Workers’ Centenary Service; and 5 the conditions aren’t right; Stagecoach and Arriva Off the Rails: Patrick Flanery; Bev Quist; can take legal action over being excluded. Then Kim Darroch; and Christopher Meyer First Trenitalia wins the former Virgin bid because it meets Williams – a report we have not yet had – Cyril Power’s Tube train pictures on show 6 l and contains element of the old cap and collar l Kevin Lindsay hails a victory in Scotland 7 process that means the franchisee cannot lose. 14 Compounding this, Mr Shapps is looking into the l Jeremy Corbyn’s programme to tackle the 8 viability of HS2 but the new West Coast franchise poison of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party has been let to deliver elements of it. So why has Features it been let? It’s nice to know it’s business as usual – chaos and confusion remaining the order of the l Conrad Landin lifts the lid on Serco; and 9 day – but Mr Shapps did complain about his Ian Jolly on Northam’s day out at Tolfest constituency only having six services a day so let’s hope when he addresses that he will also l Susan Greenwell on the TUC’s LGBT+ 10 address all those communities that have a limited conference; and Bill Dale on the NPC service and deal with the double whammy l Carolyn Harris on the scourge of gambling 11 because bus deregulation is losing 90 million journeys a year. Deborah Reay and Tanya Rubinstein 12-13 l Mr Freeman, another transport minister, went report on the plight of the Palestinians on the media to complain that his train was late l Fascism: How the left took on and defeated 14 15 and his connection was not held. Obviously, he Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists does not understand the fractionalised penalty driven privatised world. And, with the current l Jen Thornton and Peter Wright on the music, 15 mantra from Mr Shapps and Mr Williams, marches, magic and cricket at Tolpuddle punctuality will only exacerbate this issue. The annual RPI fare rise has been announced Regulars to universal condemnation from those forced to l Branch News, and Upcoming Events, and 16-17 travel who have suffered years of austerity and 100 Years of Union no – or below RPI – pay rises. We should encourage travel to grow our local and national l Obituaries 19 economies at the core of regenerating Britain as l Letters and Classified Advertisements 20-21 22 a public service. Mr Johnson’s aversion to truth hasn’t changed Last Word: Chris Proctor on racist tweets 22 l with 20,000 ‘extra’ police promised – exactly the and how, for some in the old Confederate number who will retire over the next five years states, the American Civil War never ended and would have been required, anyway. New l On Track: PG Wodehouse; Prize Crossword; 23 money for the NHS is not new money at all and Legal Services; and Change of Address £1 billion less than required because of previous Tory cuts. A threat to prorogue Parliament to The ASLEF Journal is published every month by: drive through his no deal Brexit by a man who ASLEF, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN 23 will – with his two immediate predecessors – go Tel: 020 7324 2400 l email: [email protected] down as the three worst premiers in history after website: www.aslef.org.uk l twitter: @ASLEFUnion Lord North. Whatever our views on Brexit, the democratic process must underpin what is done EdIToR Mick Whelan l dESIGNER Michael Cronin l PRINTER College Hill Press, London, SW19 4HE in all our names or civil unrest will be the result. AdvERTISING ASLEF Journal, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN. Contact Keith Richmond on 020 7324 2407 or [email protected] l clASSIFIEd AdS [email protected] or call 020 7324 2400. The acceptance of a Yours fraternally display or classified advertisement does not necessarily imply endorsement of that product or service by ASLEF Mick Whelan, general secretary chANGE oF AddRESS Please post your details to ASLEF, 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN

September 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 3 News

‘Now, while we agree with every word, it is Rail fares rise again galling to hear it from the mouth of a man responsible, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, SLEF has condemned rail fare rises for and David Cameron’s right-hand man, for six hard-pressed passengers of 2.8% years, for maintaining the system of rail fare A from January. ‘The Tories and the rises based on RPI! TOCs are driving up fares yet again,’ said GS ‘And, of course, Chris Grayling is the gift that Mick Whelan. ‘But all they are doing is driving just keeps on giving as the High Court gives people off our railways. It’s time to bring our Virgin, Stagecoach and Arriva Trains a green network back into public ownership and run it light to challenge his decision to ban them properly, for passengers, not for profit.’ from bidding for the East Midlands, West Coast Tom Burridge, the BBC’s transport and South Eastern franchises. correspondent, in an analysis piece for the BBC Mick: ‘Failing Grayling is the gift that keeps ‘The truth is that the Tories don’t know how News website, wrote: ‘The bitter irony for rail on giving – this time in the high court’ to run a railway. But everyone in our industry passengers is that the quality of service in knows the franchise model is broken, beyond Britain is all too often undeserving of the Evening Standard , edited by George Osborne, repair, and that privatisation hasn’t worked. price.’ criticised in a front page splash, “inflation- And all the Williams review has to offer is the Mick added: ‘The Tories want people to pay busting rail fare rises on services blighted by prospect of a new version of the Strategic Rail more for a poorer service and that’s not a great delays, cancellations and overcrowding” Authority which didn’t work last time, either! offer, is it? For passengers – or for voters at the adding, in its leader column, that “the prospect We need to put the wheels and steel back next election. of paying more for what is effectively an together in a vertically-integrated publicly- ‘But it’s been a strange few days. The essential public service is unappealing”. owned railway fit for the 21st century.’

Pregnant soap star had to TWEETS OF THE MONTH This is a decision [to leave InterRail] sit on floor outside toilet of the British train operators, it’s on Former Coronation Street Hayley tweeted: ‘Hey them. It’s as if they see the Flygskam star Hayley Tamaddon, @VirginTrains had quite grassroots movement towards rail, and who played Andrea Becket the rotten journey home to instead of welcoming it, deliberately go out in the ITV1 soap, was Manc today as my 1pm was of their way to stop it. UK has been part of forced to sit outside a toilet cancelled from Euston. At InterRail since 1973. on a train from London to 7 months pregnant I sat hayley not happy with virgin The Man in Seat 61 @seatsixtyone Manchester after Virgin outside the toilet for the class ticket I’d like my cancelled the 1pm service whole journey. Staff were money back. How do I do Watching litany of unfunded tax & on which she was booked. amazing but as I had a 1st this?’ spending promises pouring out from Johnson & Hunt, it’s obvious they are relying on that Magic Money Tree they were shouting about in the last election. Thanks to Steam train blues QUOTE… them, Labour has become confirmed as the ‘The Conservative leadership election voice of sound, economic, common sense. had just one redeeming factor. It laid @johnmcdonnellMP bare, for all to see, some of Johnson’s many defects.’ – Martin Fletcher , Just 6.5% of train drivers in England, New Statesman Wales and Scotland are women, and …UNQUOTE 8% are from a minority ethnic background. New report from @ASLEFunion pushes for greater diversity, and measures like more part-time and flexible working. The Elsecar Heritage Railway in South YOU DON’T KNOW MY NAME @fawcettsociety Yorkshire, one of Britain’s smaller standard Our report on the RMS spring forum ( Journal , gauge heritage railway lines, is looking for August) referred to Leroy Hawkins speaking Brilliant video @ASLEFunion. ASLEF is experienced steam train drivers and firemen. about the fallout from the Windrush scandal. doing some fantastic work to increase ‘We have a real issue finding qualified, able We should have said the speaker at Yarnfield diversity in the train driving sector & crew for all our running days,’ says Richard Park was Leroy Richards. Sorry, Leroy! Mea speaking up for all its members. Great to Uttley. ‘We can’t pay them for the work, due to culpa. Mea maxima culpa . hear the perspective of young workers in charity law, but can cover expenses for travel.’ our movement. If you are interested, you can email Richard at RETIRED MEMBERS’ SECTION AGM @Unions21 [email protected] ASLEF’s Retired Members’ Section annual general meeting will be held at 11am on You don’t actually like Rory Stewart, our hip, hot and very much Wednesday 9 October at the BR Sports & Social you realise? You’ve just been held happening red baseball Club, Beaver Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 7RR. hostage for so long you’re starting to identify cap will keep the sun out of with the ‘nice’ kidnapper who seems like he your eyes this summer. ELECTRONIC SUPERSONIC might let you keep the bucket you’ve been £5 (inc p&p); email Members can receive the ASLEF Journal – and shitting in for the past three years. He is the [email protected] or visit reps can receive circulars – electronically if bucket boy of politics. our online shop at www.aslef.org.uk they choose. Please contact the admin dept at James Felton @JimMFelton head office on 020 7324 2400.

4 The ASLEF Journal l September 2019 News

Poppies whose roots are London Bridge, Blackfriars, and oﬀ the Rails in man’s veins drop, and Waterloo – at 3pm on Wednesday 6 are ever dropping November. PATRICK FLANERY , a leading American ‘As well as exponent of queer fiction, tackles the ORE than service of their remembering those notorious McCarthyite witch hunts of the 186,000 country during the who fell, we will late 1940s and ’50s, as well as the M railway War, 1914-1918’. celebrate our great difficulties and dangers of being gay at a time when workers from the Now, 100 years industry as it is today, homosexuality was illegal, in his brilliant new Hollywood United Kingdom of later, rail staff will and look forward novel Night for Day (Atlantic Books, £16.99). At one point he Great Britain and come together again together,’ said Chris cheekily compares Joseph McCarthy, the Republican Ireland fought in the for a service at Gibb, chair of the senator for Wisconsin – who infamously promoted the ‘red Great War – on land, Southwark Cathedral Railway Workers’ scare’ of the House Un-American Activities Committee and in the air and on the – chosen because of Centenary Service the ‘lavender scare’ against suspected homosexuals – with seas – of whom its long association steering group. You another famous Joe. ‘He has to admit, privately of course, 19,000 lost their lives with the railway can apply for a ticket that the other great Joe of the moment [Stalin] got in the service of king communities at at rwcms.co.uk something right in his purges and show trials. Create fear and country. Six and chaos, and you can do whatever the hell you want.’ months after the Shades of Boris and Brexit? Patrick, who now teaches at armistice, on 14 May Queen Mary, University of London, and is author of 1919, George V and Absolution , Fallen Land and I Am No One , also references the more than 7,000 railway. ‘Believing you might convince her to do anything railwaymen and other than what she wished was like sneezing into a passing women, and their freight train in hopes you might derail it.’ families, attended a service of KIM DARROCH , who resigned as the British remembrance at St ambassador to Washington after his emails Paul’s Cathedral in to Downing Street and the Foreign Office – memory of ‘the in which he described Donald Trump as railwaymen of Great ‘inept’, ‘insecure’ and ‘incompetent’ – were Britain and Ireland In memoriam: ‘Their glory shall not be blotted leaked to the Mail on Sunday , offered some positive advice, who have died in the out and their name liveth to all generations’ too. He advised ministers to ‘flood the zone’, cultivating the president’s chums to ensure they all got the same message; told Theresa May to telephone Trump ‘two or three times a Oh, George month if not more’; and said ‘You need to start praising him George Freeman, a Tory transport minister in QUOTE… for something he’s done recently. You need, whenever Boris Johnson’s government, launched a ‘Our economy is possible, to present them as wins for him.’ furious rant after rail staff refused to hold a broken because of Greater Anglia train for him. He had travelled who runs it – CHRISTOPHER MEYER , a predecessor, from King’s Cross to Cambridge but the train wealthy elites.’ – recalls that when he was appointed was late and he missed the connection to Grace Blakeley , ambassador in 1997, he was told by Tony Attleborough. Mr Freeman, MP for Mid New Statesman Blair’s chief of staff Jonathan Powell ‘to get Norfolk since 2010, became a junior minister …UNQUOTE up the arse of the White House and stay at the DfT in Boris Johnson’s July reshuffle. there’. Which remains official British policy, whoever is Prime Minister and whichever party is in power. PMs, though, live in a bubble. Meyer, in his memoirs, records CONFERENCES & RALLIES that when Bill Clinton faced impeachment over his sexual The Burston strike school rally at Burston, near Diss, in Norfolk is on misdeeds, Blair asked, ‘What exactly is the charge against Sunday 1 September. The Trades Union congress is at the Brighton Clinton? I mean, what is he supposed to have done?’ Centre from Sunday 8 to Wednesday 11 September. The labour Party conference is at the Brighton Centre from Saturday 21 to Wednesday 25 BEV QUIST , familiar to members as one of September. The STUc black workers’ conference is at the Golden our crack admin team at head office, married Jubilee Conference Hotel, Glasgow, from Saturday 5 to Sunday 6 freight driver Colin Thornhill, of Willesden October. The STUc disabled workers’ conference is at the Golden branch, on Saturday 27 July. A romance that Jubilee Conference Hotel, Glasgow, from Saturday 16 to Sunday 17 evolved during Colin’s visits to Smithfield November. The Scottish Trades Union congress is at the Concert Hall, over the last couple of years. ‘ASLEF has given Perth, from Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 April 2020. me a lot over the years,’ smiles Bev. ‘Who knew a husband would be part of that? How lucky am I!’ 500 CLUB: Martin Joyce, with number 133, won the August draw, scooping the RMS prize money jackpot of £438. JOHN RUSKIN , in The Seven Lamps of Architecture (1849), writes of the pointlessness of turning railway stations into temples to fine architecture – as the our new ASlEF lGBT+ purple polo Victorians often did – because ‘the whole shirt – ‘driving for equality’ – is system of railroad travelling is addressed to available in S, M, l and Xl. £15 inc people who, being in a hurry, are therefore, for the time p&p; email [email protected] or visit being, miserable’ and whose ability and willingness to our online shop at www.aslef.org.uk appreciate beauty was, he thought, necessarily dulled.

September 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 5 News Spirit of the age

NEW exhibition at the dulwich Picture Gallery A in south london celebrates, among other artists, the machine age Modernist cyril Power and his fascination one of the most potent symbols with a new era of mass transit. of the new industrial age; Cutting Edge: Modernist Whence and Whither? depicts a Power to the people: The Tube Station ; Whence and Whither? and Tube Train British Printmaking brings crowd of commuters together 120 prints, drawings descending on an escalator in and posters by claude Flight packed, but perfect, mechanical Mixed up messaging and eight of his students, all unison; while Tube Train clearly influenced by the explores the alienation of urban from Michael Green Futurist, cubist and vorticist living with passengers movements, celebrating preferring to read a newspaper Grant Shapps, who begun badly, sending modern 1930s Britain, and (the historical precedent for got into trouble when out mixed messages including these three, er, mobile phones and iPads) he tried to flog to the rail industry. Powerful pieces… rather than engage in gullible punters a ‘Grant Shapps Grant Shapps, aka The Tube Station proclaims conversation with fellow dodgy get rich quick gives FirstGroup the Michael Green, is the london Underground as passengers. scheme under the West Coast,’ said GS BJ’s new Transport pseudonym Michael Mick Whelan. ‘Then, Secretary Green after he had in the same breath, Handbrake turn after been elected Tory MP says he’s reviewing leaves the industry for Welwyn Hatfield, HS2. Confusing not knowing what he ASLEF slams RDG has replaced Chris messages from the and the DfT are up to. The Rail Delivery Group did a ‘Failing’ Grayling as Transport Secretary Just for a change...’ rapid U-turn after criticism – led Secretary of State for by ASLEF – of its decision to pull Transport. out of InterRail. The RDG – and But ‘Billy Three QUOTE… the privatised TOCs it represents – Names’ – he also used ‘The secret to improving rail transport in wanted to force young people to the nom de guerre my view is you need to find the right arse buy the much more expensive Sebastian Fox for the to kick.’ – Boris Johnson BritRail Pass. We said: ‘The UK has RdG – so keen on an early Brexit second job he initially …UNQUOTE been part of InterRail (which an internal witch hunt to find denied having – has allows people to travel around some poor schmuck to blame for Europe on a single ticket) since a decision signed off 1973. Not any more. The RDG is enthusiastically by CEO Paul Terry’s doing its level best to drive Plummer. people off Britain’s railways.’ ‘Another cracker from the all gold Rubbish Delivery Group!’ was a QUOTE… Jubilee East held its typical comment on social media. ‘To put it in classical terms second reunion, and a The RDG – which is only we can all understand, joint branch meeting interested in delivering higher Boris Johnson is the guy with Wembley Park, prices and bigger profits for the who puts the anus into on Thursday 1 August. Jubilee East and Wembley Park turn on the style TOCs, not in delivering a better Coriolanus.’ The event was service for passengers – was – M arina Hyde, T he attended by presented by EC8 represented by his surprised by the storm of criticism Guardian numerous reps from Terry Wilkinson. wife and daughter). and promptly performed a …UNQUOTE across the combine, Gary Comfort The branch would spectacular U-turn. Followed by reports were given on made presentations like to thank everyone the dispute on the to members, for making it such a Jubilee line, which has including recently successful and Rail trespasser jailed now been resolved, retired Frank enjoyable day. and long service Terry Maher, 44, of camden, north london, has been jailed for O’Flaherty and Ian Jubilee East branch awards were a year for blocking trains between london, Kent and France Rebbeck (Ian was reporter by climbing on top of a tunnel overlooking railway lines near St Pancras station. Maher, carrying the flag of St George, carry all your stuff – papers, sandwiches, power banks for his phone, and warm clothing, stayed for keys – in style with our smart new sturdy 13 hours, complaining about the delay in Brexit. Blackfriars black ASlEF bag. Price £17.50 (inc p&p); crown court was told he had caused 88 trains to be cancelled email [email protected] or visit our online and 22,000 people had their travel plans affected. shop at www.aslef.org.uk

6 The ASLEF Journal l September 2019 News

ʻThe railway needs FISH’N’CHIPS IN NEWSPAPER Victory for common sense officers who A passionate Brexiteer called James O’Brien, understand the way live on LBC, to say she wanted a No Deal Brexit SLEF has the railway works, so she could ‘eat fish’n’chips from a newspaper welcomed and how to keep rail again.’ O’Brien, perplexed, asked if she blamed A the Scottish workers – on trains the EU for the ban. ‘Yes, it was something they government’s and at stations – as did.’ Actually, it was the UK government under decision not to press well as passengers the Food Safety Act (1990), he pointed out. on with its proposed safe. merger of the British ʻWe have lobbied DRUNK DRIVER FACES £26,000 BILL Transport Police and the SNP government Thomas Dixon, 28, of Melton Mowbray, who Police Scotland. hard since it was pulled, drunk, from his Ford Fiesta shortly Kevin lindsay: ‘The merger Kevin Lindsay, our announced its plans, before it was struck by a freight train, faces a wouldn’t have worked’ organiser in Scotland, and we are delighted £26,000 bill for disruption to the railway after said: ʻWe are merged with Police everyone who knows that Humza Yousaf crashing his car at Asfordby level crossing in delighted that Scotland. As we have anything about the has listened to what Kirby Bellars. The incident delayed 69 trains, Humza Yousaf has said consistently – railway in Scotland – we had to say. It is, Leicester crown court was told. announced that the and we have been it would not have frankly, a victory for BTP will not now be supported by worked. common sense.’ HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW A busy London Northwestern Railway service line across the from Bletchley to Euston was delayed for Andy pledges East Pennines to Skipton several minutes at Harrow & Wealdstone and connecting it to station after a passenger’s hair extensions leeds. There is little were trapped in a carriage door. Lancs upgrade point in doing that if we do not improve The East lancashire giving a ‘cast iron’ the rest of the line. Struggle for justice line from Preston to guarantee during a This is about Aamer Anwar, one of Scotland’s leading colne would be speech at colne improving the human rights lawyers, will give the seventh upgraded and station. he said: connectivity of East annual Jimmy Reid Foundation lecture in the extended to ‘labour is lancashire which Bute Hall, Glasgow University, at 6.30pm on Skipton, across the committed to has been short- Thursday 10 October. He will talk about the Andy Mcdonald: Pennines, under a upgrading and changed on struggle for justice, equality and freedom in ‘cast iron guarantee’ labour government electrifying the East transport by the Scotland. Tickets are £10 (£6 unwaged) from said Shadow lancashire line from Burnley to colne. We conservatives – like reidfoundation.org (but free to Reid Transport Secretary Preston through are also committed the rest of the Foundation members). Andy Mcdonald, Blackburn and to extending the north.’ Mouldy old dough Labour Unions QUOTE… A commuter pocketed £27,602 from Network Rail after ‘possibly slipping’ on ‘Boris Johnson is a man TULO – the Trade Union & Labour pigeon poo at Paddington station. NR says it who has what might Party Liaison Organisation – which has paid out £1 million in five years for slips, politely be described as co-ordinates the activities of the 12 trade unions which affiliate trips and falls at its stations across the UK. to the Labour Party, has changed its name to Labour Unions. an “unusual Those unions are ASLEF; the Bakers, Food & Allied Workers relationship with the Union; Community; Communication Workers Union; Fire truth”, as one official Brigades Union; GMB; Musicians Union; National Union of told me.’ – Laura Mineworkers; TSSA; Unison; Unite; and USDAW. Our GS Mick Kuenssberg , political Whelan became TULO chair in 2016 and the organisation’s editor, BBC News director is Helen Pearce. Its website is labourunions.org and you …UNQUOTE can find tweets @labourunionsuk

Keep cool in the long, hot summer with this red ASlEF water bottle. Price £5 (inc p&p); email [email protected]. uk or visit our online shop at www.aslef. org.uk

September 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 7 News

and a larger number don’t Jeremy: our party and the recognise anti-Semitic stereotypes and conspiracy theories. poison of anti-Semitism ‘The evidence is clear enough. The worst cases of anti-Semitism ABOUR leader Jeremy them confront bigotry, wherever in our party have included Corbyn has written to it arises. Over the coming months, Holocaust denial, crude Jewish L party members and the party will produce banker stereotypes, conspiracy supporters saying that anti- educational materials on a theories blaming Israel for 9/11 or Semitism has no place in the number of specific forms of every war on the Rothschild Labour Party. racism and bigotry. Our first family, and even one member He wrote: ‘The struggle for materials are on anti-Semitism, who appeared to believe that liberation of all people is never recognising that anti-Jewish Hitler had been misunderstood. complete and must always be bigotry has reared its head in our ‘So please engage with the renewed. As a movement, we movement. materials we are producing, which Shake on it, comrade: Mick thanks educate ourselves and each other ‘Hatred towards Jewish people will be placed on a page on our Jc for speaking at AAd in leeds to better stand in solidarity with is rising in many parts of the website, along with other and unite all those facing world. Our party is not immune and distort the scale of the resources, so our movement can oppression and discrimination. from that poison – and we must problem in our party, we must be the strongest anti-racist force ‘That’s why we are launching drive it out from our movement. face up to the unsettling truth in our country. I have learned so education materials for our While other political parties and that a small number of Labour much, I hope you will too, so that members and supporters to help some of the media exaggerate members hold anti-Semitic views together we can fight these evils.’

CALL FOR FREE Howard’s way TUBE TRAVEL A new report by the left- Howard Kaye, a member of King’s Cross wing think tank branch, has been re-elected unopposed as Common Wealth, with executive committee member for District 5. Greenpeace and We Howard, a train driver all his working life, and Own It, has called for a passionate West Ham fan, was first elected to ‘transformative overhaul’ the EC in September 2012 when his of public transport, predecessor, Nigel Gibson, became district housing, and energy organiser. Howard, a former ASLEF trustee, and policy to improve our company councillor, who drives for LNER, was quality of life and save THE BIG MEETING also re-elected howard: the planet. Road Map to ASlEF activists in action at the durham unopposed in blowing a Green New Deal makes Miners’ Gala on Saturday 13 July and 2015. His new four- bubbles after the case for a capital city (right) GS Mick Whelan with labour year term runs a hat-trick of with free Tube travel, a leader Jeremy corbyn on the balcony of from January 2020 election better bus service – and the county hotel. to December 2023. triumphs without polluting private cars. MONEY MONEY MONEY Accounts published by HS2 Ltd show that RSSB TARGETS NUMB BUM SEATS chief executive Mark Thurston received a pay Poppy pig The Rail Safety & Standards Board has published new package of £651,488 last year – which includes recommendations for train seat designers after hundreds of a £46,000 performance bonus. ‘Transport complaints from passengers that sitting on badly-designed, bosses are traditionally the highest paid public uncomfortable seats leave them with a ‘numb bum’. The RSSB servants in the country,’ notes Graeme Paton, hopes its report, Defining the Requirements of a Seat Comfort transport correspondent of The Times , in his Selection Process , will end criticism that commuters are forced to report, ‘with those in the rail industry, in travel ‘cattle class’ by companies concerned only with cramming particular, receiving the biggest remuneration as many people as possible into a carriage. packages.’ Martin Thompson, of SUNDERLAND TO NEWCASTLE Portsmouth & Isle of Sunderland branch has closed and all members have been our new topical tee-shirt, Wight branch, has transferred to Gateshead & Newcastle branch. designed by those hoxton produced a new badge – hipsters at Philosophy depicting a Class 442 ‘Pig’ Football, features Rik Mayall in South Western Railway as the obnoxious anarchist livery – to raise funds for QUOTE… Rick in The Young Ones , and the Royal British Legion. ‘If Emily Thornberry were an animal, she’d be a cat. The air this classic exchange: ‘he threw us off ‘Last year we raised of feline superiority. The stately, sauntering grandeur. The the train because you said ASlEF was £1,300 for the poppy preening insouciance. The slow, sleek, unsettling smile. I an anagram for “total and complete appeal,’ said Martin. This don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone quite so supremely, bastard”.’ ‘And apart from everything year’s retro classic is serenely, imperiously catlike. I bet no one in her office dares else… it isn’t, even.’ £10 (inc p&p); available at £6 each plus open a newspaper in case she comes along and curls up on email [email protected] or visit our £1 postage per order it.’ – Michael Deacon , Daily Telegraph online shop at www.aslef.org.uk from wdrailbadgeinfo …UNQUOTE @gmail.com 8 The ASLEF Journal l September 2019 Reports Serco asleep at the wheel CONRAD LANDIN lifts the lid on the troubled Serco group, which runs the Caledonian Sleeper service, and is keen to as a whole, but now lawyers are taking cases turn refugees out onto the on behalf of individual refugees. More than streets telling them it’s time ‘to move on’ 50 interdicts against Serco have now been secured in Glasgow Sheriff Court. ERCO, Serco, out of Glasgow!’ That ‘ On Wednesday 7 August, Living Rent S was the cry at the city’s Central members congregated at Glasgow Central station in August as activists from station, in the hope of generating publicity Protesters make their point #lockoutserco Scotland’s fast-growing tenants’ union Living and raising awareness of Serco’s other Rent protested on the Caledonian Sleeper’s activities among customers and staff. received £23.39 million from Transport platform. The flagship train service has not But boarding the train to flyer passengers Scotland in franchise payments, and £23.32 been without its own problems in recent inside, they stumbled across Caledonian million in ticket sales. months – with the introduction of shiny new Sleeper managing director Ryan Flaherty. The directors’ strategic report reveals that Mark 5 carriages beset with service failures, Not his lucky day! And when activists the company has secured ‘the right to seek and even a brakes failure at Edinburgh challenged him over his company’s policy on adjustments to the financial terms of the Waverley which led to a train coming to a evictions, he was not a happy bunny. franchise agreement’ and ‘exit the contract’ if halt 650 metres down the line from its Flaherty shouted: ‘This is my train. Get off my it is not turning a profit by 2022. stopping point. train!’ They obliged, but proceeded to read a GS Mick Whelan said ‘It is a problem of But these tenants were here for another statement against the lock-changing policy franchising.’ He argues that even within the reason. Until Mears group takes over this on the platform. realms of the broken railway bidding system, month, Serco holds the Home Office contract It’s no surprise that Serco wouldn’t want a ministers should never have awarded this for housing refugees in Glasgow. And it less glamorous part of its business empire contract to Serco. recently resumed a programme of changing rubbing off on its flagship railway. But the ‘Why you would give any service to Serco the locks of those who have been sleeper, once famed for its convenience, and that’s not a rail operating company, that had unsuccessful in their asylum applications – relative reliability, has recently been in the no engines, that had no drivers, that had no even though many are appealing and could headlines for all the wrong reasons. Public operating experience? There’s no rhyme or yet be granted leave to remain. Performance Measure data reveals that just reason for what they’ve done, and it hasn’t Serco describes its controversial policy, in 60% of London to Edinburgh trains arrived been a great success.’ classically condescending jargon, as a ‘move within 10 minutes of their scheduled arrival Then again, Serco has become on protocol’. But Glasgow City Council leader time between 25 May and 22 June. The synonymous with failure, from the electronic Susan Aitken says the situation threatens to figure was at 66.7% for Glasgow and prisoner tagging scandal, to the Yarl’s Wood unleash a ‘humanitarian crisis’ in Scotland’s Edinburgh to London, and 70.8% for London detention centre, to falsification of NHS data. largest city. to Glasgow. Meanwhile, company accounts Critics wonder what it will take for ministers In April the Govan Law Centre failed to show that CS made a loss of £3.3 million in to tell their chums at Serco that enough is get the courts to strike down the programme the year to 31 March. Over the same year, CS finally enough. Another great day

IAN JOLLY , Northam ASLEF marquee, chatting to union learning and everyone who came in. The branch equality rep, sun was starting to shine, the reports on the 160 trip to whole area was filled with unions from all over, and it was Tolfest in Dorset good to see Jeremy Corbyn T STARTED overcast, walking around shaking but we would not let people’s hands and chatting to I that dampen our as many as he could. themselves – came down to spirits as Northam branch Before the banner parade show their support. A little boarded our transport, driven Ed d’Bell and his father Eddie liquid refreshment helped, no by retired member Alan laid on a fantastic spread of doubt! The day ended relaxing Taylor. All loaded up, we set chicken curry and rice. Thank in the glorious sunshine off, only to have a mechanical you both! The parade began chatting to our trade union issue on the way, but this was and the sky was full of colour brothers and sisters. Another sorted by our mechanical from all the banners. Alan great day at Topuddle! expert Alan Loughlin! Arriving Taylor and Ed carried ours with at 11.30am we unloaded and pride, then Mr Eagle took over. n Please turn to page 15 for ‘So we waved our hands as we marched set up by the ASLEF van. AGS It was great that two partners Jen Thornton’s Tolfest cricket along, and the people smiled as we sang our Simon Weller and EC1 Marz – Jane and Maureen, who report and Peter Wright’s song’; and another excellent curry prepared Colombini were busy at the both seemed to enjoy piece about John Taylor by Ed d’Bell and his father Eddie September 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 9 Reports If we aren’t quantified then we don’t exist SUSAN GREENWELL reports from the TUC LGBT+ conference at Congress House in London SLEF sent six members – its largest delegation yet A – to the TUC’s LGBT+ conference on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 July. It included Hugh our delegates (left): darran Brown; Rachel harper; Cumming (D2), Darran Brown Susan Greenwell; david Jones; Matt Whyte; and (D3), Susan Greenwell (D4), Rachel hugh cumming; (above) our delegates with Angela Harper and David Jones (D7) and Rayner; and (top) lee gets arty with her iPhone Matt Whyte (D8) accompanied by our equalities adviser Lee James. inclusive sex and relationship aren’t quantified, we don’t exist’. state-run education. Conference was opened by education across our schools Darran seconded USDAW’s On Friday lunchtime we Maria Exall, chair of the TUC’s while S Chelvan, a barrister at No motion on tackling LGBT+ hate showed support for a fringe event LGBT+ committee, who asked us 5 Chambers, talked about the crime and reflected ‘Where does hosted by LGBT+ Labour chaired to stand for a minute’s silence for issues facing the LGBT+ asylum hate crime happen? The sad by Lucio Buffone, Paddington Lyra McKee, the journalist and seekers he represents – some of answer is – everywhere.’ branch, GWR company council, NUJ member who was murdered whom were told to video Rachel moved an emergency and co-chair of LGBT+ Labour, at on the Creggan estate in Derry on themselves ‘in action’ to prove motion on the Vatican’s which Angela Eagle, Heather Peto, 18 April. Speakers paid tribute to they are gay! Congregation for Catholic and Rohit Dasgupta spoke about Lyra, who had a huge impact on ASLEF’s motion, about LGBT+ Education statement about defending LGBT+ rights in an era so many in the LGBT+ community rights around the world, called on gender identity which declared of populist politics. in Northern Ireland. the TUC to pinpoint countries that ‘Gender is not decided upon The 230 delegates attending Frances O’Grady, general where such rights are lacking. by individuals but imputed by conference decided the motion to secretary of the TUC, attacked the Matt moved the motion, which God’ thus rejecting trans and non- be sent to the main Trades Union hatred shown to LGBT+ people by was supported by five other binary people. Rachel said, ‘I am Congress in Brighton would be some politicians – naming and unions, and adopted with an tired of having to justify my about homophobic and shaming Boris Johnson, Esther amendment by Unison. existence.’ transphobic hate crime. Darran McVey, Ann Widdecombe and David seconded the FBU’s David also seconded the GMB’s and Rachel were also re-elected Nigel Farage. motion for a question relating to emergency motion on LGBT+ unopposed to the TUC’s LGBT+ Angela Rayner, Shadow sexual orientation and gender inclusive education. He called for committee. All in all, a good Secretary of State for Education, identity to be included in the LGBT+ inclusion throughout the conference. But with hate crime on spoke about the urgent need for 2021 UK census, saying ‘If we education system, not just in the rise we are all not equal yet!

Labour MP for South Shields, in a Q&A Keep right on to the session with delegates. This NPC parliament was one of the most end of the road informative and passionate for some time. With the number of delegates slowly BILL DALE, Retired Members’ increasing, including many first time Section committee member, attendees, the atmosphere was galvanised and Chingford branch, reports by the BBC’s announcement about the future on the National Pensioners’ of the TV licence. Convention parliament Jan said we need to make known our disgust by protesting against this RIOR to the official opening of the government – and the BBC – over the ASlEF in action: dave court, Ray Jackson, NPC parliament, held in Blackpool withdrawal of free TV licences for the over Mick Barker, Bill dale and Susan howe P from Tuesday 11 to Thursday 13 75s. The pensioners’ parliament closed by June, delegates were invited to see the film of delegates over the withdrawal of the TV singing the song inspired by Jack Jones: Keep Unsung Hero: The Jack Jones Story . If you licence for the over 75s. A report appeared in Right on to the End of the Road . have not seen this, it is well worth doing so. the paper with a picture of our march. The usual march from Blackpool Tower to There were keynote speeches on the n NPc london region took our protest to the Winter Gardens took place before the environment, Windrush, and Brexit, as well the BBc at Broadcasting house on Friday 21 opening by Councillor Fred Jackson, as sessions on digital exclusion, housing, fuel June. To bring our protest to a wider followed by contributions from chair Ron poverty, intergenerational fairness, social audience we then marched – slow walking – Douglas, GS Jan Shortt and other top table care, transport and ageing without children. down to oxford circus closing off all the speakers. An excellent final session featured Eddie access roads at the junction for ten minutes. For the first time we had the Daily Mail Lynch, the Older People’s Commissioner for Motorists, taxi drivers and the general attend (I know!) to cover the strong feelings Northern Ireland, and Emma Lewell-Buck, public were all giving their support.

10 The ASLEF Journal l September 2019 Platform When does an innocent bit of fun turn into something far more serious?

CAROLYN HARRIS , Labour MP for Swansea East, deputy leader of Welsh Labour, and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm, explains why she is trying to protect the vulnerable from the vultures of the gambling industry

Tempted? You can have a bet on Premier league football (and many teams are sponsored by online UYING a scratchcard when you pop bookies); pick up a B to the newsagents. A day at the races scratchcard at the petrol with friends. £20 on your team to win station or supermarket; go the league this season. Fun with the kids in the into a gambling arcade; one arcades on your day trip to the seaside. of the high street bookies; or Some of these are probably familiar to most spend a day at the races people. An innocent bit of fun. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose but, either way, it’s could no longer cope with the demons of his family member or colleague. within your means and you enjoy it. gambling addiction. The first step is admitting the problem and But when does that innocent bit of fun turn And I have heard from an industry which the next is doing something about it. into something far more serious? still, despite the evidence, continues to refuse to take action and acknowledge the real IF YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, I HAVE SEEN THE DEVASTATION THAT tragedy that gambling addiction can cause. NEEDS HELP IT IS AVAILABLE GAMBLING ADDICTION CAN CAUSE The good news is that the APPG is a If you think that you, or someone you know, As chair of the Gambling Related Harm All stalwart group of MPs and peers determined needs help then there is help available: Party Parliamentary Group, I have witnessed to take on the industry. A group that has n Gamban (www.gamban.com) is software first hand the devastation that gambling already been instrumental in the stake you can download onto your machines addiction can cause. reduction on fixed odds betting terminals and and devices that will effectively block I have sat with grown men as they have is now looking at the regulation of online gambling websites and apps. cried about the money – sometimes hundreds gambling and what needs to be done to n Gamcare (www.gamcare.org.uk) is a of thousands of pounds – that they have lost support and protect the most vulnerable. national provider of free information, over the years. About the relationships that advice and support for those with a have broken down because of their addiction GAMBLING ADDICTION CAN AFFECT gambling addiction. and the children they no longer see. ANYONE FROM ANY WALK OF LIFE n The National Gambling HelpLine can be I have heard stories from people who have The truth is that, like any addiction, an contacted on 0808 8020 133 for lost their jobs, committed crimes, and been to addiction to gambling can affect anyone from confidential advice and support for those prison – all because of their addiction. any walk of life. It does not discriminate – male affected by a gambling addiction. Professional men and women who have lost or female, young or old, rich or poor, black or n GamStop (www.gamstop.co.uk) allows you everything – careers, family, friends, and their white. But, unlike some other addictions, there to put controls in place to restrict online dignity – because what started as a bit of fun, are no physical clues and addicts become very gambling activities. got way out of hand. good at denying there is a problem – even to n Gamblers Anonymous I have listened to heartbroken parents, themselves. (www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk) have a consumed by a devastating anger and a need There may be some of you reading this with forum, chat room, and can tell you the for answers, as they have told me about their whom this resonates. Maybe you are noticing location of your closest Gamblers son who has taken his own life because he a pattern in your own behaviour, or that of a Anonymous meeting.

September 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 11 Agenda I – I wish you could swim like the dolphins, like dolphins can swim

DEBORAH REAY , Northern Line North branch secretary, and chair of ASLEF’s Women’s Representatives’ Committee, reports on her fact finding visit with Lee James, ASLEF’s equalities adviser, to the West Bank of the River Jordan

N APRIL, Lee James and I were part of into half synagogue and half mosque when the We went on to meet representatives of the an historic delegation of 16 women Israelis took over the site in 1967. It was the General Union of Palestinian Teachers and the I from various trade unions who visited scene of a massacre in 1994 when an extremist Palestine Polytechnic University, a uni founded in Palestine. The trip was a result of demands made Israeli settler killed 29 people while they prayed Hebron by the University Graduates’ Union in at the TUC women’s conference. The motion and injured 150 others. 1978. They told us about the challenges facing called for us to do more to support the rights of We went on to the Al-Ibrahami Boys’ School. those wanting to work, learn or simply exist in Palestinian people, to end the occupation, and We had to go through another two checkpoints peace with their families in the West Bank and to visit Palestine to hear first-hand accounts of to get to this incredibly run-down school. The Gaza. life, with its violence, oppression and teachers try to make it nice for the kids but they One of the people we met was Tanya intimidation. have very little money. The children have to go Rubenstein from the Coalition of Women for Our wonderful guide for the week was Noor, through three checkpoints every day and are Peace, a group of Israeli and Palestinian women a Palestinian who drove us about all week, often bullied, intimidated, and occasionally committed to ending the occupation, creating a sorted any problems and gave us the low down teargassed. We then tried to go to Shuhada more just society, enhancing women’s inclusion on what’s what in Palestine and Israel. Street in Hebron which used to be a thriving area and participation in public discourse. Tanya is an The first night was quite relaxed as we lined with small shops and businesses, all now Israeli Jew and has been ostracised by many of wandered around Jerusalem, an historic centre closed. After the massacre by the extremist her friends and family and accused of being anti- for Christian, Islamic, and Abrahamic religions as Israeli settler at the Mosque of Ibrahim, the Semitic. The irony isn’t lost on her. well as Judaism. That’s where the relaxation Israelis decided to punish the Palestinians by ended; the next five days were non-stop. welding shut the street facing doors, effectively THE VILLAGE OF NABI SALEH turning it into a ghost street. Palestinians are not We went to Nabi Saleh, a small village about 12 HEBRON AND EAST JERUSALEM allowed to go down there, and the people who miles north of Ramallah, where we met the The first things we noticed were the checkpoints, still live on the street have had to put steps up to Tamimis, a family of activists who have paid which are everywhere. Palestinians have to the rear windows as they are not allowed to use dearly. Manal Tamimi, the matriarch, welcomed queue, sometimes up to three hours, but Israelis the front doors. all 16 of us into her home and told us how she go straight through. We had problems accessing the street as we has lost three of her family. Mustafa, 28, was Our first stop was the Mosque of were with Palestinians. The soldier was very protesting with other young men from the Ibrahim/Tomb of the Patriots. This beautiful polite when I asked why, but a soldier on a village. Mushaab, 17, was shot at close range building, believed to be the burial place of the previous checkpoint radioed through and during protests and 21-year-old Izz was killed prophets Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, was turned forbad us from going through. during a raid on the village. Most of Manal’s family have been imprisoned on trumped-up charges; her 16-year-old son is currently in PALESTINE: AN ISSUE THAT CONCERNS US ALL prison for throwing a stone. Manal spoke of the night raids, the tear gas, ASlEF, as a trade union, stands in solidarity with workers around the world. and the violence and explained that, just the Palestinians living under Israeli occupation struggle every day; to find work, to get night before, there had been a raid on their permits to work, to get past checkpoints, and to negotiate proper wages and decent home and her family had been teargassed. working conditions. They struggle to get access to adequate housing, basic sanitation, This was an emotional visit and what Manal health care, food and water. Many have been displaced and forced into exile. It is thought of 16 women from the West crying in because of these injustices that ASlEF, along with many other trade unions, is her living room was anybody’s guess… affiliated to the Palestine Solidarity campaign and is calling for a lifting of the ongoing blockade and for Israeli compliance with international law with regard to the people of MAY DAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST Palestine. By raising awareness of the plight of the Palestinians, by developing We met with trade unionists who told us about international solidarity, and by bringing political, economic, and social pressure to their difficulties in finding work, organising bear, we aim to bring hope to the Palestinian people and to realise their ambitions for workers, and accessing union members to effect justice and a lasting peace in the region. positive change in an economy that is beyond n The Palestine Solidarity campaign works for peace and justice for Palestinians, in stagnation. The minimum wage for Palestinians support of international law and human rights. It is opposed to all forms of racism, is set at around a quarter of the minimum wage including anti-Semitism. Find out more at www.palestinecampaign.org for Israelis. Why? When goods cost the same regardless of who is buying them?

12 The ASLEF Journal l September 2019 Palestine

(From far left, clockwise) Goatherd in Ramallah; woman in the Jenin refugee camp; a watchtower at a crossing into the West Bank; the wall in Bethlehem; lee and debbie at Yasser Arafat’s grave in Ramallah; May day in the West Bank; debbie refused access to Shuhada Street; debbie and lee fly the ASlEF flag on May day; Manal Tamimi; the PSc delegation at the Mosque of Ibrahim in hebron; the al- Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem; teargas bottles turned into art outside the Tamimi home in Nabi Saleh; lee helps children learn English at the Altafawk centre in Jenin. Photos: Lee James

Discrimination is not yet recognised in law for inquiry from conducting an investigation, but a children have been injured or killed, often being employees, yet restrictive laws stifle the ability of subsequent report compiled by the Secretary used as human shields, whilst almost 700 more workers to take strike action, with many General concluded that at least 52 Palestinians every year are processed through the Israeli legal professions being banned from striking at all. were killed in the camp. system, mostly for the crime of throwing stones. Unemployment is around the 60% mark and Of all the amazing people we met, Mona One of our guides was imprisoned from the age has the greatest effect on society with socio- Jalamnh sticks in my mind. After the massacre, of 11 for eight years for throwing a stone. economic deprivation impacting on health, she created a nursery from the remains of her We heard so many stories of ill-treatment, wellbeing, education and prospects. old home. Children come to the nursery every human rights abuses and, to be honest, pure Mental ill-health is at epidemic levels with, as day and Mona charges one shekel spite in some cases. Palestinian ambulances with you can imagine, stress and trauma affecting (approximately 25p) which goes towards feeding critically ill people have to wait at a checkpoint many and one-third of all Palestinians have no the children, although Mona also uses her own for an Israeli ambulance, as Palestinian access to health care. money to subsidise the cost. ambulances are not allowed into Israel, and Most of the children are severely traumatised, many people die waiting. JENIN THE MARTYRS’ CAPITAL their only knowledge of ‘blonde faces’ are those Many Israelis are also opposed to the We saw the impact of the massacre in Jenin, a of the Israeli soldiers who come in the night to occupation, but it is not their voices we hear in huge refugee camp. Fifteen years ago, the Israeli take their older brothers. our media. Whether this is through fear of the army bombarded and assaulted the Jenin Mona and the other teachers have made this backlash they would face or just that they are refugee camp for more than 10 days. This was a place of love, where the children can play and not interviewed is unclear. part of Israel’s Operation Defensive Shield, learn without fear. We sat in with a class of The Palestinians we met had next to nothing, during which it sent troops into the heart of six children ranging in age from two and half up to yet they were willing to share what little they major cities in the occupied West Bank and six. The children were learning English and were had with us, comparatively wealthy Westerners. surrounding towns and refugee camps that were having so much fun with their teacher, it was an Not one person asked for money, although ostensibly under Palestinian Authority control. absolute pleasure to watch. obviously this would help, they just wanted us to Israel barred members of a UN commission of Since the second intifada, 2,000 Palestinian tell their side of the story. We can be heroes – just for one day TANYA RUBINSTEIN , co-ordinator of the Coalition of and public smear campaigns. threats and violence. It happens Women for Peace, explains what her group does, and As feminists, we believe in here with activists in Gaza being the background to the present conflict in Palestine working together, in supporting shot and killed or injured in their each other, as a radical tool of fight for freedom, we see HE Coalition of Women occupation, and the work being creating change. As a movement, demonstrations in the West Bank for Peace was established done for human rights and peace. our resources and access to power met with military invasions into T in 2000, during the The government and right-wing are much more scarce than the villages and mass arrests and we second intifada, as a joining of NGOs join forces locally and privileged, rich and powerful see demonstrations and actions forces of feminist and women’s internationally to stop the leaders and stakeholders who inside Israel and in many countries organizations, groups, and progress that has been made for have a lot to gain from our silence around the world incited against. individual activists working freedom of expression and human and the perpetuation of the social In this harsh and seemingly against the occupation. It has rights struggles, and stop anyone structures that keep them in hopeless reality, we see great gone through a lot of shifts over and anything that gets in the way power. One of the main resources strength in our mutual support. the years, but the basis of the of making profit, taking land and we have is our sense of justice, and Meeting with the amazing women group is a gathering of Jewish and building power of those most the wide scope of struggles for of your union is, for us, a breath of Palestinian women, working privileged. justice that can bring together fresh air, knowing that we are part together to end the occupation One of the ways that’s being huge masses struggling for the of something greater, of a global and bring about a just peace. As a done is by creating fragmentation same thing. The struggle against movement for change, working group we offer our solidarity and within the peace movement, the occupation, against the together as a network that, support to women who live under creating distinction between patriarchy, against LGBTQphobia, hopefully, will eventually change occupation and women who are those of us who are legitimate and for peace and human security, are, the norms we live in to create a marginalized in society. those who are ‘too radical’ and for me, one and the same. world that is welcoming, nurturing In recent years, there has been creating physical and In these times of global shifts and accepting of everyone who is a growing force to stifle and stop psychological barriers with to the right, we see activists all now marginalized and the resistance against the separation walls, border control over the world under surveillance, discriminated against.

September 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 13 Station to Station

England, 1936… The grip of the Sabbath day, in London town the only sound is a whisper in an alleyway Listen to the sound of marching feet and the voices of the ghosts of Cable Street

In the second of three articles rallying cries of ‘Down with Fascism!’ and ‘They The Battle of cable Street; oswald KEITH RICHMOND examines shall not pass!’ Mosley inspects members of his British Union of the impact of fascism in Britain Six thousand policemen – including the Fascists; Wallis Simpson and the duke of and Spain in the 1930s in the entire Metropolitan Police mounted division – Windsor meet Adolf hitler in Nazi Germany; tried to force a way through the East End for wake of the rise to power of Mussolini General Franco; Marina Ginèsta, of the Unified 5,000 blackshirts to march, brutally and Socialist Party, in Barcelona; Joan Miró’s in Italy and Hitler in Germany indiscriminately beating anti-Fascist volunteers celebrated poster to Aidez L’Espagne in what became known as the Battle of Cable FTER Benito Mussolini and his Fascist Street. ‘Rightly celebrated,’ as Ruth Smeeth, In fact the Germans, had they successfully Party seized power in Italy following Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, says, ‘as a invaded Britain, planned to install the Duke as A their March on Rome in 1922, and great victory’ and ‘the day the tide turned in the king under a Nazi regime. Churchill, who knew Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party took over the fight against fascism in Britain’. he was ‘in close touch with German agents’ government of Germany in 1933, other far- packed him off to become Governor of the right strong men on the periphery of politics in ‘We do not believe in government through Bahamas, where he was kept under Europe – including Oswald Mosley in Britain the voting booth’ surveillance by the Secret Intelligence Service, and General Franco in Spain – were – General Francisco Franco , 1938 which had information from the FBI that Wallis encouraged to try their luck. Simpson had an affair with the German Sir Oswald – the sixth baronet of a title that ‘The blackshirts, in Britain and on the continent, ambassador in London, Joachim von had been in his family for centuries – was very had friends in high places. The Duke of Windsor Ribbentrop, in 1936, passing on information. well-connected; married first to the daughter – the title given to Edward VIII after he of Lord Curzon, Governor of India from 1899 to abdicated in 1936 – went to Germany in ‘When everything was cowardice, treachery, 1905 and Foreign Secretary from 1919 to 1924, October 1937, meeting Hitler at his Berghof and betrayal and when the Saracen hordes then to Diana Mitford. Hitler was guest of retreat in Bavaria, and enthusiastically from far outside Europe swept right across that honour when Mosley and Mitford tied the straightened his right arm in a full Nazi salute to continent, and would’ve come on over our own knot at the home of Nazi propaganda chief der Führer. ‘Britain too, if they hadn’t been stopped’ Joseph Goebbels in Berlin in 1936. When the Germans invaded France he – Oswald Mosley moved to Spain – under Franco and the Fascist ‘Fascism was an explosion against Falange – then Portugal. Lord Caldecote ‘When I joined the militia,’ writes George intolerable conditions, against remediable warned Winston Churchill that the Duke ‘is well Orwell in Homage to Catalonia , ‘I promised to wrongs which the old world failed to remedy. known to be pro-Nazi and may become the kill one Fascist – after all, if each of us killed It was a movement to secure national centre of intrigue’. one, they would soon be extinct.’ ‘renaissance by people who felt themselves threatened with decline’ – Oswald Mosley THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR 1936-39 At first an ardent Tory, Mosley was elected as In the 1930s, the democratically-elected left-wing Republican government in Spain Conservative MP for Harrow in 1918, but then introduced sweeping social and economic reforms to improve the lives of industrial sat as an independent, and joined Labour in workers and peasant farmers. conservatives – the rich, the powerful and the Roman 1924 after Ramsay MacDonald had, perhaps catholic church – were furious and, in July 1936, the army, led by General Francisco not coincidentally, just formed the first Franco, tried to overthrow the legitimate government by force. Thousands of Labour government. When Mosley fell out Spaniards rallied to the Republican cause, the coup failed, and the country was with MacDonald in 1931 he formed the New plunged into a bloody civil war. Party which, 18 months later, and after a Franco’s Nationalist army was backed by right-wing Falangist irregulars as well as visit to Mussolini in Italy, became the British soldiers from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy as hitler and Mussolini used Spain as a Union of Fascists. testing ground for the tactics, troops and weapons they would deploy in the Second This virulently anti-Semitic party World War. The governments of Britain and France, wedded to an ill-conceived policy announced a provocative march through of appeasement of the great dictators, agreed on a cynical policy of non-intervention Stepney, in the heart of the Jewish East End of because, cabinet papers subsequently revealed, they feared socialism, and the power London, on Sunday 4 October 1936. of the workers, more than they feared the Nazis and the Fascists who had wealthy and The Communist Party, Independent Labour influential friends in England. Party, Labour League of Youth, Jewish People’s But, on the Republican side, volunteers in the International Brigades flocked to Council against Fascism, and trade unions, led answer Joan Miró’s call to Aidez L’Espagne , many of them living, fighting and dying by the National Union of Tailor & Garment under a slogan used by anti-Fascists ever since: ‘ No Pasarán! ’ Workers, began to organize under the

14 The ASLEF Journal l September 2019 Tolpuddle There is power in a factory power in the land, power in the hand of the worker

JEN THORNTON , policy researcher and digital comms adviser at head office, goes glamping at Tolfest 2019

SLEF activists joined thousands of trade A unionists from around And the banner man held the banner high; Ready, steady, cook; howzat! Frances catches Marz at extra cover the country at the annual Tolpuddle Martyrs festival in The ASLEF barbie has become a spectacular catch from TUC GS The assembled crowds also Dorset in July. The festival runs key fixture of Tolpuddle and an Frances O’Grady at extra cover, heard from Frances O’Grady – over a weekend, encompassing important gathering place for and Debbie Reay, Northern Line whose speech reminded us about music, speakers and a banner people to catch up with North, producing the best the wider movement of which we parade – there were ASLEF comrades from all over the bowling over of the evening – one are part, here and across the banners from Districts 1, 5 and 7; country. This year, our chefs were wicket for one run with four dot world – and Shadow Education Exeter, Northern Line North, EC1 Marz Colombini, GMB GS Tim balls – catching and bowling her Secretary Angela Rayner who Salisbury, Southampton and Roache, and Paul Maloney, GMB victim. Cricket talent clearly runs brought the house down with her Weymouth branches; as well as southern region secretary, and in the family, as Debbie’s son Chris passionate commitment to a new the WRC banner and our new included everything from took a catch at deep midwicket to national education service to national banner – through the halloumi to burgers and some hold off the GMB. enable everyone to learn village on Sunday afternoon. The rather fancy seasoned pork In a fitting tribute to the recent throughout life. route runs in one direction and chops. A small amount of alcohol Cricket World Cup final, the first Labour Party leader Jeremy then loops back on itself, so was, of course, also consumed game was tied and was settled Corbyn was the headline speaker saying ‘Hello’ to comrades coming during the evening! with a rather dramatic super over on Sunday, and very well received. the other way is one of the Following the BBQ was a which the TUC eventually won Jeremy shared Labour’s pledges highlights, and not something three-way cricket tournament 11-8. EC5 Howard Kaye was the to bring utilities and other you usually find on a march. between teams from the TUC, match umpire and scorer, and services into public ownership, On Saturday evening, ASLEF GMB and ASLEF. ASLEF lost to the oversaw both games with great and recommitted the party to and the GMB joined forces to cook TUC but beat the GMB. Highlights calm and very little dissent from repealing anti-trade union a BBQ for the amassed campers. included Marz getting out to a disgruntled players. legislation that prevents workers Speakers included Matt Collins, from organising effectively. The of Hope Not Hate, in conversation biggest cheer of the afternoon – Cleaner and greener with Kevin Maguire of the Daily as heard by ASLEF, anyway – was Mirror about Matt’s new book, when he reconfirmed Labour’s We have just produced new campaign materials on the subjects written with Robbie Mullen, a commitment to nationalising the of electrification, moving from road to rail freight, and greening former member of National railways and creating a rail system the railway as part of an integrated national transport strategy. Action, who worked with HNH to in public ownership run for Tolpuddle was the launch weekend for this new campaign, and foil a plot to murder an MP. people, not profit. support came from Jeremy, Angela, Frances, Tim, and Vicky Phillips of Thompsons solicitors, BFAWU GS Ronnie Draper, İbrahim Doğuş, Mayor of Lambeth, and musician Joe Solo. Videos and campaign materials are available on the ASLEF website 40 not out www.aslef.org.uk and our social media channels. EC1 Marz Colombini, with Weymouth against a backdrop of branch being, in assembled members ASLEF terms, the and banners, home team at Tolfest, explained that there the occasion is often are a number of the scene for Marz congratulates traditions associated presenting loyalty John on 40 years with ASLEF at badges. This year to received his award Tolpuddle. One is our John Taylor, formerly from Marz because, as Saturday BBQ and the of Waterloo Nine Elms, a driver instructor in annual sporting who was presented the past, it was John challenge that follows with a badge who taught our future and the excellent recognising 40 years’ EC member to drive curry lunch provided membership of, and trains! Jeremy corbyn; Angela Rayner; Frances o’Grady; on Sunday by Eddie loyalty to, ASLEF. It was Peter Wright , Tim Roache; İbrahim doğuş; and Joe Solo d’Bell. Another is that, appropriate that John Weymouth

September 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 15 Branch News

Beating heart of Upcoming events this trade union n RIPPLE LANE – FRIDAY 6 SEPTEMBER WO ASLEF branches – The annual jolly boys’ outing to Clacton – everybody welcome – Stirling Caley and meets at 12.00 in the Spoons opposite the pier and finishes in T Grangemouth – held a the old BRSA Club after the bingo has ceased at 3pm. joint meeting and we would like to place on record our gratitude n MARYLEBONE – FRIDAY 20 SEPTEMBER to the GS, DO and EC member for Marylebone 132 branch reunion from 16.00 at the Allsop Arms, Gloucester Place, London, NW1 5AL. their fantastic contribution to a A long and happy one, Robbie great night. Mick, Kevin and Jim gave three excellent reports on driver ask for? A chance to get n RAINHAM – THURSDAY 3 OCTOBER the current state of all things things off your chest; a chance to From 11.00 at Rainham Social Club, 86 Station Road, Rainham. ASLEF, nationally and locally. question and debate with our Great debate was had with typical decision makers; and then an n LONGSIGHT – THURSDAY 10 OCTOBER Scottish passion! All with the opportunity to assist the All grades welcome at our annual reunion from 13.00 at the greatest respect from all present. publicans of Central Scotland. All Navigation Road BRSA Club next to the BR & Metrolink station. Topped off with a retirement in all a great night. The branch is Always a great event with beer and buffet. For further presentation by the GS to Bro the beating heart of this trade information please contact either Colin Allsobrook (07771 Robbie Gray from Stirling Caley union and we need these nights; 374559) or Ray Bullen (07952 686495). branch. Have a long and happy we also need to encourage more one, Robbie. Those present then of our colleagues to come along n FRATTON – FRIDAY 11 OCTOBER helped towards their five a day by to keep this beating heart strong Railway reunion open to all rail and retired workers – drivers, consuming compressed apples and proud. guards, shunters, signalmen, platform staff and ticket office – and whichever fruit contributes to Tam McKendrick and Davy from 12.00 to 18.00 at the BRSA Club next to Fratton station. lager! What more can a train O’Rourke , branch secretaries Free buffet and raffle. ‘Come along and make it a great event,’ says Gary White. ‘And bring any photos of railway interest.’ Some sort of record! n CRICKLEWOOD – FRIDAY 18 OCTOBER Reunion at the RAFA Club, 93 Asburnham Road, Bedford, MK40 Southampton year will be a big loss 1EA (opposite the station) from 12.00. Northam 160 to company council, Northam branch, and welcomed old friend n TOTON – FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER ASLEF. The branch and company council The Toton old boys’ reunion is at the Sportsman, Derby Road, thanked Nigel for all rep Nigel Cummins to Long Eaton, NG10 4HA from 19.30. All former and present Toton his hard work and our July branch train crew, partners and friends are most welcome. meeting. Nigel has dedication, been a longstanding particularly the last 20 and loyal friend to years on company Rock on, Nigel! Northam since its council, which must Nigel all the best for opening in July 2003. be some sort of his well-deserved Mind the gap record! The chair retirement and look He has successfully Watford celebrated those presented him with forward to welcoming represented many of who have been members the last Northam 2003 him as a retired our members and of ASLEF for many years opening badge (only member in the future. supported the LDC, at our June meeting: 100 originally Alan Loughlin , particularly recently. Steve Doyle (15 years) produced). We wish branch secretary His retirement next and John Fife (30) with chair Paul Spreckley and vice-chair Kev Corcoran. Jon Zinzan , branch secretary

TEARING DOWN ASLEF MATERIAL A busy Jubilee East 272 branch took place in July and it was special for a number of reasons! First, it was my last branch as a local rep; the result of a local election was counted by our Ec member Terry Wilkinson and John Murrell has taken over the North Greenwich industrial relations role. Second, the branch had a raft of industrial and safety issues that we are requesting to go into dispute ranging The ghost of a from not adhering to our framework to taking down ASlEF head office approved material! We have written to the Ec to ballot all our steam train echoes members for full strike action and I believe this will be approved. down my track Third, the branch was moved by one of our members, Frank o’Flaherty, who was forced to leave due to ill health. he said ASlEF GS Mick Whelan, DO1 Graham and the reps made it seamless and wanted his thanks passed on. Morris and EC1 Marz Colombini We wish him all the best. at Woking branch Gary Comfort , branch secretary

16 The ASLEF Journal l September 2019 100 Years of Union

Good time had by all At the July Test Train Operators branch meeting a number of long service badges were presented by EC8 Terry Wilkinson. The branch was well attended and a good time was had by all. Branch reporter We turn back time – and the pages of the Locomotive Journal – to September 1919 and the King’s Speech, the coalition government, and a warning to the war cabinet SUPER-PRODUCERS, PROFITEERS, AND MONEYLENDERS ‘We have a respect for the king, which does not seem to be shared by the people who advise his speeches,’ says the New Age . ‘Nobody will accuse the King of being in the capitalist conspiracy to maintain and strengthen the stranglehold of capitalism upon the working-classes of the country. A day at the races Yet, if his purpose had been to avow his alliance with the super-producers, profiteers, and moneylenders, his speech at the Guildhall on Tuesday last could scarcely have been better composed. His flattering references to City finance were as undeserved as many decorations.’

DUKES, MARQUISES AND EARLS Who constitute the coalition? The Dukes, Nikki Newing (third left) was on the money Old friends Marquises, Earls, and other grades of the with david Sachon of TUFM at lingfield Park aristocracy almost to a man and woman. Newton heath retired drivers and guards The great industrial monopolists and ASLEF – in the shape of finance manager Nikki met, once again blessed by superb weather, financial magnates. The profiteers and war Newing, who knows a thing or two about at the Millgate, Failsworth. Thanks to Andy contractors who have made fabulous horse flesh – judged the best turned out horse Gee and Johnny Pat for their continued super-profits out of the Great War, and at Lingfield Park and presented the £50 prize, organisation and the usual excellent buffet hope to continue the process under favour sponsored by Trade Union Fund Managers, to plus John’s booze raffle. Great to meet of their present benefactors. The the hardworking groom of Terri Rules, a four again old friends and colleagues. our Imperialists, Protectionists, and year old bay filly, just before the TUFM thanks to the branch and special thanks to Conscriptionists. Handicap on Wednesday 17 July in which she 105 members for their continued financial came home second, at 13/2, behind the 3/1 support for this very special reunion. WARNING TO THE WAR CABINET favourite Come On Dave. John Black , Newton Heath RMS We refer to the negotiations for our national programme. These have been unusually protracted and delicate, and SCORES ON THE DOORS have involved many long discussions with The Morden July branch meeting the Railway Executive and Cabinet welcomed David Frederick from ministers. The discussions came to a head Prostate Cancer Awareness, who gave a in August, when we were able to send out very informative speech as well as to branches the final word of the Railway supplying literature for the workplace, Executive. Up to 20 August there had been David is hoping to attend district received at head office nearly 200 council to do a similar presentation. resolutions from branches, of more or less Morden branch reporter david picks up a donation from the branch serious import, but all asserting our just claim to our national programme for do3 Andy hourigan and Ec3 John locomotive workers. Metcalfe at the holyhead branch AMERICAN RAILWAY SENSATION meeting on Sunday 4 August. They Organised labour in America, and notably presented long service badges to the members of the Railway Brotherhoods, Iain Fraser (30 years); Pat duggan, have thrilled the world. Their united Andy Nolan and Steve Williams demand for nationalised railways, and the (10); donny Monro and Karen abolition of private profit out of their Walton (5). dave Mortimer and labour, is the outstanding event of the dave Steele (15) and colin month in railway affairs the world over, and Pritchard (10) couldn’t attend and they merit the thanks and congratulations were given their badges later. of Will Workman in every clime.

September 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 17 The 500 Club STANDIN G ORDE R M ANDA TE To ______Ban k The 500 Club is a fundraising venture for ASLEF’s Retired Members’ Section. Numbers in the draw cost £4 each and, to begin making Ad dress ______payments into club funds, all you have to do is complete the ______standing order form and return it to your bank. Alternatively, you ______60-83-01 can pay by cheque a year in advance; the cheque should be made BANK BRANCH TIT LE ( NOT AD DRESS) SORTING C ODE N O.

payable to ASLEF RMS 500 Club. Ple as e p ay Uni ty Trust Ba nk Bi rmingham 08 -60 -01

Payments need to reach the club account by 1st of every month ’ and the draw takes place on 12th of every month – with the winning BENEFI CIA RY S N AME ACCOUN T N UM BER For th e cred it of ASL EF RMS 5 00 CLU B ACCO UNT 2 0 2 0 1 1 9 3 number, name, and prize printed on page 5 of the ASLEF Journal . Once you have arranged your method of payment just complete the form and return it to the Admin Department at head office. AMOU NT IN F IGUR ES AMOU NT IN WO RDS

The su m o f £ The Retired Members’ Section committee would like to thank you for your support and wish you luck in the draw! DATE AN D AM OUNT OF F IRS T PA YM ENT DUE DA TE AND FR EQU ENCY Yours fraternally, Mick Whelan, general secretary ST Com mencing £ and th ere after e very 1 OF EVE RY MONT H

ASlEF RMS 500 club application form DATE AN D AM OUNT OF L AST PA YM ENT *Until £ *Until you r ece ive fu rth er notice fro m m e/us in writ in g Name...... Qu otin g t he and debit my/our acco unt acc ord in gly re ference Address...... Pleas e can cel any prev ious stan din g o rd er or dir ect d ebit in fav our of t he benefici ary named ab ove ...... Telephone No...... SPE CIA L INSTRU CTIO NS email...... Each number costs £4. You can purchase as many numbers as you like. ACCOUN T TO B E DEBITE D ACCOUN T N UM BER I confirm that I wish to purchase ____ numbers as part of the 500 Club.

A) I have set up my standing order (£48 per annum or £4 per month)

B) I enclose a cheque for advance payment (£48 per annum) Si gnatur e( s) ______Date ______

______Signed...... Date...... ’ Note: The Ban k will n ot underta ke t o: (i) mak e an y r eference t o Va lu e Ad ded Tax or oth er in determ inat e ele ment Please return this half of the form to: Andrea Weston in the Admin Dept, (ii) advis e pay er s a ddre’ ss t o b enefici ar y (iii) advis e beneficiary o f in ab ili ty t o p ay ASLEF, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN and hand the other half, the (iv ) request benefici ar y s b an ker t o a dvis e b enefic iary o f r eceip t

standing order mandate, to your bank (or via your internet bank) * De lete if n ot ap plic ab le If th e a mounts o f t he p eriod ic p ay ments v ar y, t hey sho uld b e in corp ora ted in a sc hedule overl eaf

18 The ASLEF Journal l September 2019 obituaries

RAY STAFF REF OF THE YEAR and finally hanging up his BILL BRAND boots at the age of 45. Ray Coming from a railway was a family man with two ASLEF IN HIS BLOOD family, Ray started his sons and a number of With sadness, I report the death of ASLEF stalwart Bill footplate career as a grandchildren to keep him Brand at the age of 97. Bill had the Society in his blood. cleaner at Ipswich. He had on his toes. He enjoyed Born at Egremont in Cumbria, his family moved to a break in service when he pottering in the garden Salford, and he began his footplate career at Patricroft went off to do his national with his wife Jean but, steam shed. Bill served in the armed forces, in Burma, service in Hong Kong and sadly, could not tell the and returned until shed closure in 1968 brought a move Korea in the Army, serving difference between a plant to Newton Heath. He was LDC, sectional council B, in two regiments – the and a weed so he just district council chairman, at a time of regular shed Royal Norfolk and the stuck to doing the heavy closures and movement of men under BR to nominated Black Watch. On his return work. He also enjoyed TV sheds and depots. Bill always worked hard to carry out RIP Staffy 9 May 1933 to Ray got married and quiz shows. After the the excellent conditions afforded under PTR and will 14 June 2019 transferred to Stratford to service we all went back to forever be remembered when ASLEF is mentioned. later become a driver matches and various other the Eastbrook pub in John Black , Newton Heath RMS where he remained until tournaments at the Gidea Dagenham for a pint and retirement. Ray was very Park BRSA Club. He was reminisce and a bit of a popular, getting heavily also an accomplished tale telling. Ray was a very PETER CARPENTER into 30A’s depot activities referee, getting the lovely man and will be COME ON YOU IRONS with old mates Casso and accolade of ref of the year much missed. Peter began his railway career at Ronnie Tuft, organising 1981-82, priding himself Cliff Blackwell , Retired Stratford and later moved to Clacton football and cricket on his smart appearance, Members’ Section where he retired. He was a jolly person to whom you took an instant shine, JOHN WHITTINGTON MEETING THE QUEEN always enjoying a laugh and a joke and a pint at the end of a shift (if still open). Ex-Marylebone consumption... Dick had led an An East London lad who enjoyed his driver John – Dick When he retired active career on the football, he was an avid West Ham to his friends – at 65 in 1994 he Southern and took RIP carpo 8 supporter. The service was held at Whittington has and his wife moved pride in telling us February 1942 Weeley crematorium in Essex to a full died aged 89. He from their railway about meeting the to 1 June 2019 house. The family invited everybody came to us from cottage at Queen to be back to the old BRSA Club at Clacton for an ale or two the Southern for Edenbridge to awarded for bravery (John Smiths) to celebrate his life and tell a few stories. the last of the South Molton in at work after an He will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of steam out of Devon. Having incident on the meeting him. Marylebone in 1987 worked all his life, track and, during Cliff Blackwell , Retired Members’ Section and enjoyed his Dick couldn’t resist retirement, he got final working years one last job, and to meet her again doing just that. An got involved with after helping to HEWIE CAREY DRY WIT active and lively the local narrow return a steam Hewie Carey, who has died at the age of 93, began his member of the gauge steam engine to the UK footplate career at Patricroft steam shed in 1947, where branch, with food railway; old habits from South Africa. Turn again, dick he remained until it closed in 1968, when he had a PTR not being safe die hard. He even He enjoyed the day centre, and move to Newton Heath and then Manchester Victoria when Dick was let me ride on the retirement, taking letting nothing pass until retirement. He was popular with his colleagues, around, it was this footplate with him, an active role in the him by. Farewell old known for his dry wit and sense of humour, and a real that led to ‘piegate’ where I nicked his community, friend, steam on. pleasure to know and work with. where a doctored hard-earned cup of becoming a Chris Edgson , John Black , Newton Heath RMS pie was left for his tea. Pay back. spokesperson for Marylebone TOMMY DONE GEORGE HOLLANDS NUMBER SNATCHER WORCESTER CENTURIAN George Hollands passed station as a cleaner, 100-year-old steam driver away in February having working his way up to Tommy Done has recently reached the grand age of fireman then driver. He passed away after a short 93, leaving his wife May, to transferred to Tonbridge in illness. You very kindly whom he was married for the 1950s where he stayed printed a short history of his 70 years, and daughter ’til retirement in 1991. life as a railwayman – at Sandra. George started on Many will remember him Barry, Rogerstone, and the railway aged 13½ as a as Gunsmoke and for his Worcester – in the Journal in number snatcher at many jokes and tricks! January which he was Tunbridge Wells, went on Southern Locoman , his thrilled to see. His to the signal box at book about his days on workmates celebrated his George as Marshal Matt Tonbridge and then up to the steam, was published 100th birthday with him at a dillon in Gunsmoke London Bridge. He got fed in 1982. George loved party at the Crow Hotel in up with the near misses nothing more than going always sharing his curries, Tenbury Wells, from German bombs so fishing with his many chutneys and, if you were Worcestershire, in November signed up to the Navy at friends and three sons. He lucky, his highly prized 2018. 16! After the war he went also enjoyed cooking, onion bhajis! Chris Wilkinson , Ex-85A Worcester steam back to the railway at having learnt about spices Sandra Bilsby (George’s Worcester Locomotive driver Tommy at his Tunbridge Wells west whilst in the Far East, daughter) Society milestone party

September 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 19 letters

Join the conversation! Send letters by email to [email protected] or If rail freight disappeared, who would notice, apart by Royal Mail to the ASLEF Journal from those of us who work in the industry and care? at 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, I read the latest report on business has long been a London, EC1M 4NN the state of rail freight regressive industry, (Journal , August) with contracting from a How about making every great interest. It’s two universal wagonload years since I took industry, with worker a shareholder? retirement, having marshalling yards Mick Whelan has condemned Keith Williams worked in the privatised nationwide, via (Journal , August) for taking a backwards step, railway for Freightliner transitions and cutting instead of moving forward, and suggesting Intermodal from its back, to fully-fitted, that a Fat Controller figure running another inception until I decided speedlink, block loads, quango is the best way to solve the problems to go. Sadly, reading the and sectorisation, to afflicting Britain’s railway network since ASlEF report, it struck privatisation and the privatisation. Williams, it seems, has ruled out me as same story, core-flow industry it is re-nationalisation. different day. Putting it today. Political I believe nationalisation of the rail network politely! disinterest and apathy, will be any change. lots in 1948 was the best option to get the network An ongoing battle the massive decline of of fine words, but no back into a reasonable state after the ravages with the numerous Focs heavy industry, poor action. And, as the Focs of the Second World War. However, because of over issues which are, in management decisions are the truly privatised interference by various governments, and the theory, relatively (the loss of virtually all face of railway lack of a sensible forward-thinking straightforward, and Royal Mail traffic), and an operations, they are left management, nationalisation became an supposedly agreed, over-dependency on to the mercy of the horrendous expense on the exchequer. seems to be the norm. specific traffic (such as market place. Like many, I believe privatisation has to go, We noticed in coal) to provide flows, I recall do Nigel and the sooner the better, but I do not believe Freightliner that, when have all contributed to Gibson lamenting, a that re-nationalisation of the network is the the original management this position. couple of years ago, that answer to the failed privatisation system. So team started to retire, The attitude of the dfT the Focs were engaged here is my suggestion of how our rail network new management had to rail freight, and in a race to the bottom. could be sensibly run. different interpretations ministers who have no Nothing much seems to First, get rid of the plethora of TOCs as soon and applications of knowledge of the have changed. as possible, and replace them with five agreements. railway, leaves me JP Morgan , Ipswich companies akin to the old British Railways The rail freight unconvinced that there (retired) regions. The companies would have shareholders, but not external ones. The only shareholders would be the employees. At the start of the business, everyone who within its own boundaries. And the DfT would Many thanks, comrades is employed, from CEO down, would be given not be involved in the day-to-day running of Colleagues, could I please place on record my a single share, and that share can be owned the companies. Its only input would be to thanks to all those branches who nominated only by the person to whom it is given. It decide who would be the CEO. That CEO me and enabled me to be re-elected cannot be sold on to anyone, neither inside would decide who would head up each of the unopposed as your executive committee nor outside the company, and when the operating divisions such as commercial, member District No 5. Since I was first elected shareholder leaves the company, or retires, or engineering, finance, and marketing. onto the EC, I have always been totally dies in service, that share, after its value has There would be a board of directors, which accountable to the branches and members been paid to its owner, or estate, is destroyed. would consist of the CEO, the heads of the within District 5 and over the next four years I A new share can only be issued to a new operating divisions, and representatives from commit to the same level of accountability. employee. the various unions. The number of this group Comrades, many thanks. Initially the shares would have no value. to be the same as the number of the heads of Howard Kaye , EC5 However, if the business succeeds, the operating divisions. shareholders would be paid quarterly A crazy idea? I would welcome comments bonuses, half as cash, half to add value to their from Mick and his union colleagues. My Another nail in the coffin shares. This should give an incentive for staff to grandfather, who worked his way up from It’s great to see the TOCs doing their best for remain loyal and have pride in their company. orphan to mayor-elect of his home town the environment, trying to get us out of our An example of how employees could county borough in the year he died, was NUR cars and use the trains more. If I thought that benefit can be shown by looking at Northern branch secretary up to his death. then I would have failed my D&A test. As well Rail. Its accounts as at January 2016 show Robert Parker , Milnthorpe, Cumbria years of above inflation ticket price rises, to 5,002 employees – 3,361 operational; 893 (Furness Line Action Group committee and line the shareholders’ pockets, there are car engineering and maintenance; 748 admin and Cumbria Better Connected) park charges. Imagine my surprise when I support. The company’s directors arrived at my local station on a Monday recommended a dividend of £10,400,000 Mick says: ‘The trouble is, Robert, there are morning to find the daily car park charge had together with interim dividends of £5,700,000; no real surpluses in the rail industry. gone up 11% to £8.10 a day or an extra £200 £5,900,000; and £6,300,000 (a total of They’re entirely artificial, designed by John per year. I’m one of those rare beasts that still £28,300,000). Had this been paid to the 5,002 Major to give the private operators a profit gets free residential travel; for most of my employees, each would have received £5,657. picked from the public purse. All the fellow freight drivers and, of course, the ripped Each company would take over investment in the railway is public money off travelling public, this is not an option. Now responsibility for Network Rail infrastructure and public investment.’ it’s cheaper for me to commute to my depot in

20 The ASLEF Journal l September 2019 classified Advertisements

THE KING’S CROSS STORY by Peter Darley (The History SINCERELY AND FRATERNALLY Press, £20) as featured on the centre pages of the January I am writing to express my sincere thanks to dave Journal . Buy it direct from the calfe, Ec president, and Mick Whelan, general Camden Railway Heritage Trust at a discounted secretary, for the help they’ve provided me, and price of £15 inc p&p; email [email protected] or especially my family, during a very difficult time in phone 020 7586 6632 for details. ‘All income from all of our lives. I must also give heartfelt thanks to sales goes to the trust,’ says Peter. vicky Phillips at Thompson’s solicitors who, as well as always being so kind and considerate, was able 442 PIG poppy badge in support of to introduce us to the particular expert solicitors the Royal British Legion. £6 each we needed to help get us through the worst of it. I plus £1 postage per order from vicky Phillips promoting Martin Thompson at Fratton will never be able to thank you all enough to repay electrified rail at Tolpuddle depot; email [email protected] the kindness we’ve been shown. I would also like to say thank you to the rest of my friends within ASlEF who have been so supportive and there for me when I’ve needed them, especially during those times when I INTER-CITY 125 farewell badge, thought I didn’t. You know who you are and I’m blessed to know you. individually numbered, only 125 Mark Herron , Bletchley produced. £10 inc p&p. PayPal to Greg Burton (Paddington branch) at [email protected]

GROVE PARK branch 50th my car than use the train. Bravo, SWR! Putting crisis. The rail and tube network should be put anniversary badge. £6.50 inc p&p. another nail in the environmental coffin. As a at the forefront of tackling this crisis as a mass Contact branch secretary Ray Garland footnote, car parks are free in Scotland! transportation alternative to emitting vehicles. 07931 612615 or [email protected] Paul Barber , business council secretary, The workers ASLEF represents should, Freightliner Heavy Haul therefore, be fully supported. We think a show HANDMADE miniature of solidarity in the future, such as the simple driver’s keys to wear as a charm It’s nice to kick back and gesture of XR people joining strikers on a or round the neck. Solid silver picket line, would go a long way to show a and solid 9ct gold weighing not get up at silly o’clock united front. approximately 7 grams. Just over 2cm in length and just under 2cm width. Gold £300, silver £100 + James Marshall , XR London I recently left the job I love after 31 years, paid £7 p&p recorded delivery. Contact Brad McCarthy off through the sickness scheme negotiated by Mick says: ‘That would be secondary action. on 07929 350146. our union. Nigel Cummins, our colleague and But we do believe in tackling the climate company council rep based at Salisbury, has YORK 243 crisis by getting freight off our roads and branch 130th anniversary been a diamond and I will be forever thankful badge. Last few remaining £6 inc onto the cleaner, greener railway’. for what he has done, and his representation. p&p. Contact branch sec Adrian Cook And then there is our union which must be at [email protected] one of the best in the world for the Retirement certificates representation and conditions it gains for us. Reading the Journal I see quite a lot of retiring PROFESSIONAL ENGRAVING at People who haven’t worked outside the members receiving retirement certificates. I sensible prices. I can engrave anything industry do not realise how lucky we are. took early retirement in 2013 after 46 years in you wish, such as the ASLEF logo on It has been wonderful working in one of the the railway industry, of which nearly 40 years the pint tankard. Contact Paul Potts by most diverse, humorous and interesting were spent as an ASLEF member (and still is, email at [email protected] industries in the country. I miss my workmates, through the RMS). Do I take it that every and the banter, plus driving through the retiring member receives a certificate as I have AIRDRIE has produced a badge to countryside, but I’ve worked for the last 40 never received one. commemorate its reopening as a years so it’s nice to kick back (and not get up at Gordon Revell by email separate branch. £6.50 inc p&p. Please silly o’clock). Many thanks again to everybody contact branch chair Ivan Wilson for your friendship, your kindness, and your I started on the railway in January 1961 and (07949 862393) for details. priceless humour. Take it easy out there. joined the union the same month. I finished in Kris Jendesen 1598 (how’s that for a 2007 after taking redundancy. I was BESPOKE CUSHIONS Hand Salisbury pay number?) wondering, as I never received a certificate, made 40cm square cushions of how would I be able to get one? I am still in railway engines and carriages. £50. Call Abi on 07954 659849 or email me at the union after 57 years. [email protected] Ronks on the right track Dave Bamforth , Mexborough, Yorkshire At this time of political turmoil I could really do with half an hour with the late Bill Ronksley to Mick says: ‘our admin dept at head office PERTH branch badge to commemorate 110 years (1908- straighten me out, re-rail me, and put me back has sorted these certificates for you.’ 2018). £6 plus £1 p&p. Cheques on the right track. payable to Perth branch ASLEF No Bill Davies , RMS Bedford Are friends electric? 134 General. Please contact branch Would it be possible to receive the monthly secretary Grant Murchie for details on 07412 Common goals on climate Journal via email instead of the printed version 453454 or [email protected] and, if so, how do I arrange that, please? Extinction Rebellion is focused on the climate Jonathan Wall , East Midlands Trains crisis. A critically important, and often To place an advertisement in the overlooked, fact is that the crisis is a workers’ Mick says: ‘The Journal is put up on the ASlEF Journal please phone issue. Workers have been exploited by major ASlEF website at the start of every month 020 7324 2400 or send an email to corporations and the government and will be and is downloadable as a pdf. We also tweet [email protected] disproportionately affected by the climate a link to the Journal @ASlEFunion.’

September 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 21 last Word

In the winter of ’65 we were hungry, just barely alive, by May Richmond had fell, a time I remember oh so well The night they drove old Dixie down Racist tweets by President Trump reminded CHRIS PROCTOR that, for some in the US, the Civil War never ended. Or, at least, the wrong side won. And the president is pouring petrol on the flames lit by those who like to dance in front of burning crosses and the Confederate flag

E ALL sniggered when Donald Trump told a surprised nation that US forces The World Turned Upside Down : lord cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown, virginia, in 1781 W had ‘taken over the airports’ during (without an airport in sight); the Robert E lee monument in charlottesville, virginia; Jim the American War of Independence from crow posters in Montgomery, Alabama, and Selma, Ala, in 1931; an anti-racism protest in Britain. ‘Our army manned the air, it rammed los Angeles in support of the victims of violence in charlottesville; Pickett’s charge at the the ramparts, it took over the airports, it did Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1863; and a Juan crow sign in dimmitt, Texas everything it had to do.’ The US President was talking about a war Virginia; and the Proclamation was dependent estimates that more than 6,000 white fought from 1775-1783 while the first plane on a Union victory. supremacists are signed up to the KKK long- didn’t take to the air until 1903. So it was When slavery was eventually declared frock-and-pointy-hat community. And those always unlikely that there were airports more illegal throughout the United States of are only the lid of a bin that includes dozens of than a century before the Wright brothers’ first America, it often made little practical sects under the general banner of Unite the flight. But that’s the Donald for you. Although difference to the freed slaves. Lacking land, or Right: the white supremacists, white US history is not as straightforward as it seems. capital, many became sharecroppers for their nationalists, white separatists, anti-immigrants Take the American Civil War that began in previous owners, forced to give a (frequently and anti-Semitics who make up the US alt- 1861. Any American schoolbook will tell you oppressive) portion of their crop to the semi- right. If you want to know what sort of people the basic facts: the North won, it abolished feudal ‘lord’. If they didn’t sign annual contracts they are, ask the family of Heather Heyer. slavery, and it ended in 1865. Except… with the landowners, they could be arrested. Any notion that being free would lead to ‘Mine eyes have seen the glory of the ‘Hurrah! Hurrah! For Southern rights civil rights for ex-slaves was further from the coming of the Lord; he is trampling out the hurrah! Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag truth than a Donald Trump tweet, bound as vintage where the grapes of wrath are that bears a single star’ – Harry McCarthy they were by the notorious Jim Crow laws. stored’ Named after a blacked-up white minstrel, ‘– The Battle Hymn of the Republic ‘Did the North win? One piece of evidence that these were state and local laws that enforced the Allies won the Second World War is an racial segregation in public facilities, including The evil legacy of the Confederacy still plays a absence of statues of Adolf Hitler littering our transport and education; and which made it major part in US politics. Trump was playing cities. The US, on the other hand, has all kinds illegal for blacks to serve on juries, testify for racist votes when he was reluctant to of monuments dedicated to Robert E Lee, the against whites, or serve in state militias. The US condemn the Charlottesville rioters, doubtless Confederate commander who slaughtered military didn’t start de-segregation until 1948, recalling former KKK leader David Duke who thousands as he backed slavery, supported and it didn’t officially end until 1953. said he should ‘take a good look in the mirror discrimination, and became a leading symbol and remember it was white Americans who of militant white supremacists. ‘Virgil Caine is my name and I drove on the put you in the presidency’. Yet his name features on three US military Danville train, ’til so much cavalry came Trump looked: which is why, launching his facilities, scores of US monuments and and tore up the tracks again’ re-election bid in June, he vowed that sculptures, and two public holidays. Civil rights – Robbie Robertson Immigration and Customs Enforcement would activists are still murdered in his name. In 2017 ‘ ‘conduct a massive operation to round up Alex Fields, a white supremacist, drove his car After the Treaty of Gettysburg, many millions of people and remove them from the into a crowd protesting about a statue of Lee, disgruntled and disaffected Confederate country’; the same intolerant and superior erected in 1924 in Charlottesville, Virginia, troops were diverted out of the country to world view of the Confederate States of murdering 32-year-old Heather Heyer. fight a string of military campaigns against the America. And not everyone on the Union side was non-whites they held in contempt in the The ghost of the Civil War still casts a long entirely committed to the cause. Abraham Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua and shadow over the United States. It’s never quite Lincoln’s in-laws owned slaves, and the Haiti. When these veterans returned, there was gone away. That is what many of us find Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 had more a huge increase in the membership of the Ku alarming. But it’s also what Donald Trump is holes than Crossrail. It freed slaves only in the Klux Klan. The guns of the Civil War had fallen relying on as he sets off on the campaign trail Confederate states that were fighting, silent but white supremacism had strong again, looking for the votes of racist whites conveniently leaving out Delaware, Kentucky, roots, which continue to thrive in the South. and raking over the ashes of a conflict that has Maryland, Missouri, Tennessee, and West Today the Southern Poverty Law Center never been properly resolved.

22 The ASLEF Journal l September 2019 Across down on Track Prize crossword 1 Joiner’s fastening 1 Fodder crop instrument 2 Casual comment crossword 161 by Tom Williams 7 Oval pudding fruit 3 Used with daub to 8 Childish outburst construct walls Sieg Heil, Jeeves! 9 Termite 4 Harangues 10 Reject scornfully 5 Hand or foot wart HE decision to lay a memorial 11 Interrupt a 6 Sentimental love stone at Westminster Abbey – public speaker story T alongside such literary giants 13 Lubricating oil 11 Small cutting tool as Geoffrey Chaucer, William 16 Whipped with 12 Admit to crimes Shakespeare and Charles Dickens – to a rod 13 Native of Munich commemorate Pelham Grenville 18 A sharp blow or Bonn Wodehouse (1881-1975) has caused 19 Technical term for 14 Skilful jaws to drop. Comic stories featuring the the breastbone 15 Dish below a cup monocle-sporting Old Etonian Psmith, 20 Cut a design 17 Jeans fabric his hapless chum Bingo Little, that jolly on metal gentleman of leisure, Bertie Wooster, his 21 Houses of valet Jeeves, and other denizens of the Parliament borough Drones club and Blandings Castle set, made Wodehouse exceedingly wealthy. And extremely right-wing. Solution to crossword 160 Wodehouse moved to Le Touquet in Across: 1 Lettuce 5 Bird 7 Man 8 Ice cream Name...... the Pas-de-Calais in 1934 to avoid 9 Niece 10 Grow 13 Wash 14 Deck 18 Envy paying tax in Britain. He turned down a 19 Alert 21 Hedgehog 22 Lie 23 Slat Address...... seat on an RAF plane leaving France as 24 Nervous down: 1 Lemonade 2 Tenpence German panzers swept across the 3 United 4 Energy 5 Burrow 6 Roam ...... country, and in 1941 he made five 11 Waterloo 12 Chatters 15 Knight 16 Hyphen Fascist-friendly broadcasts from Berlin 17 Danger 20 Cell to the United States, which had not ...... then entered the Second World War. Congratulations to Robert Joseph Goebbels realized their leeks , of Worksop , ...... enormous propaganda value, and the Nottinghamshire , who was last talks were subsequently broadcast to month’s winner. The winner of this Britain, too. month’s Prize Crossword will receive ...... These light-hearted fireside chats – Marks & Spencer vouchers to the value of £25 while not in the You can see more of Tom Williams’s Postcode...... same league as l broadcasts by crosswords, word games and puzzles at William Joyce, aka wordgames.co.uk the Anglo-Irish Thanks for all your responses to the 160th prize crossword in the August edition of the ASLEF Fascist Lord Haw- Journal . If you successfully complete this month’s crossword please send the solution to the PG Wodehouse: Haw, who was Editor, ASLEF Journal , 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN by 14 September ‘the friendly hanged for treason Fascist’ in 1946 – gave succour to the enemy. Wodehouse was condemned – notably by the BBC and Daily Mirror – as a collaborator, Nazi ASLEF’s legal services propagandist, and traitor. have you been sacked, or are in trouble at work, and cannot get hold of Worried that he, too, would face justice – and dangle at the end of a rope your branch secretary, local representative or district organiser in an like his Fascist friends – Wodehouse emergency? call our industrial relations department on 020 7324 2400 never came back to Britain. He fled to (9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday or 9am to 4pm on Friday) or leave a the US in 1947 to live in a penthouse on message on the answer service, or email [email protected] with a subject the Upper East Side of Manhattan and heading of ‘For the attention of the then at Remsenburg on Long Island. In 1965 the British government said he industrial relations dept’. could return to the UK without fear of prosecution but he chose not to. Even ardent admirers of his novels admit Wodehouse was an ‘odious anti- changed your address? Please let us know! Just fill in this form Semite’ whose broadcasts, as the former Conservative MP Gyles Brandreth says, Name...... ‘undoubtedly gave comfort to the enemy during the darkest days of the Address...... war’. And the Rev Alexander Faludy, ...... vicar of Wallsend, drew attention in the Church Times to the author’s ‘entirely Postcode ...... Telephone...... voluntary advocacy for the French far- right Action Française movement in the Branch...... Membership No...... inter-war period.’ Please return coupon to: ASLEF, 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN Keith Richmond

September 2019 l The ASLEF Journal 23 TUC Congress 2019 The 151st annual Trades Union congress is at the Brighton Centre from Sunday 8 to Wednesday 11 September